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Ask HN: What do you do when you are lethargic?

53 points by wemysh ↗ HN
Sometimes - like today - I am not interested in anything. I just feel lethargic. I walk around, try to sleep, try to work, try to lift some weights... nothing works. I'm just bored. I play computer games and feel bad for wasting time that I could use to build my startup, do sports, plan a holiday or whatever. But I simply find no energy for any of these tasks.

I know that in a day or two I will be full of energy again. Maybe even later on today. But these lethargic moments come often. Once every few days I guess. Any Ideas how to approach this kind of situation?

59 comments

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hellofunk
I think sustained cardiovascular activity is the best thing. Not weight lifting, but running, swimming, or fast walking, biking, any of those things. Seriously, it works. Also, getting the blood moving in that way tends to inspire many great ideas; many influential people throughout history associated active body movement with good ideas.
dylanjermiah
Weight lifting is a form of cardiovascular work.
hellofunk
Weight lifting is rarely a sustained form of heightened heart activity in the way the other examples are. Yes it works your heart, but there are usually many relatively motionless pauses between short sets, as opposed to the constant push on your heart that accompanies more traditional forms of cardio work. Not a knock against weight lifting, just emphasizing a different type of heart activity.
merpnderp
Aren't those pauses usually people standing around trying to catch their breath, with their pulses coming down from the 180 they hit while doing a set?

Isn't weight lifting more like doing a 40m sprint, then slowly walking back to do it again?

hellofunk
My recommendation to the OP, since it was asked, is to engage in sustained cardiovascular activity, where the heart rate is elevated at a consistent rate. I'm not saying weight lifting doesn't have its strengths (no pun intended!) but it's not the type of cardio activity that I'm suggesting, for the same reason as what you've just mentioned: the idea is not to push your heart to an extreme and let the pulse "come down"... it's to get your heart to an elevated rate and keep it there consistently for a long stretch. For that type of activity, weight lifting is not the answer. For other types of goals, it very well may be.
Thriptic
It really depends on the lifting. Heavy squats, deadlifts etc? Sure. The pseudo-bodybuilding a lot of people do when they hit the gym? Not really.
evook
You've clearly never lifted weights seriously. From a medicinal point of view different types of heart activities don't even exist.
hellofunk
Different types of cardio workouts definitely exist, and most trainers will tell you that a well-rounded health regimen requires a mix of many different types, including weight lifting juxtaposed with more cardio-centric exercises. But this thread is not about how to give your body the best workout.
CmonDev
Lifting doesn't burn the muscle mass though.
Thriptic
> Cardiovascular is the best thing. Not weight lifting, but running, swimming, or fast walking, biking, any of those things.

What makes you say this? I always feel fantastic and motivated after a hard session in the gym. I agree that long runs or walks yield more creative thoughts than time in the gym, but few things are as energizing and motivating as successfully grinding out heavy sets of squats or deadlifts.

hellofunk
Hm, the OP asked what would I do to overcome lethargy. I personally would not lift weights, preferring instead the other forms of cardio activity I mentioned... so that is why I answered the OP's question as I did.
Thriptic
Great, but that's not how your post reads. Your post comes off as you stating that cardio is inherently better that lifting w.r.t OP's goals. You don't say anywhere that you are presenting an opinion or what happens to work for you.
chmielewski
I didn't read his comment that way and I agree that prolonged cardio, sustained and focused breathing, and sweating out toxins over a longer period of time is more conducive to affecting a negative mood than aggressively knocking out high weight/low rep sets. With it comes, also, the added benefit of a repetitive "zone" where you can do some greaaaat thinking and get used to having your body functioning on a higher level. Energy begets more energy.

Thriptic, you didn't bring to the table any thought that isn't criticism... which is fine but you also don't back it up which is what you are criticising this fellow for.

FYI the above is my opinion.

Thriptic
Parent poster thoughtfully edited their comment in response to the comment you are critiquing, which is why that comment comes off as strange and negative; it is out of context.
hellofunk
Yes, I prepended the words "I think" to my comment to make it clear it was an opinion. The original question was clearly opinion-based anyway, so I took it as assumed that people would respond with what works for them personally.
Thriptic
> Hm, the OP asked what would I do to overcome lethargy. I personally would not lift weights, preferring instead the other forms of cardio activity I mentioned... so that is why I answered the OP's question as I did.

This comment was heavily edited relative to what I responded to

DanBC
Rule out thyroid problems (simple bloodtest) amd sleep problems.

Then focus on diet and exercise.

ggordan
I often find that just getting out of the house (going through that process of showering, getting dress etc..) helps a lot. If 'walk around' implies just walking around your house, I'd suggest trying that.
hellofunk
I agree. Getting out of the house is great in general, especially for people who work at home (in case that applies). Fresh air alone is worth it, and good for your health. As I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate just how important fresh air really is to the body and mind. And there is never anything fresh about the air in your house. And when you do get out, the stimulation of the world around gets you out of your own head and can be enough sometimes to break the static blah that has been laid over your thoughts.
cdvonstinkpot
I just accept & go with it, understanding that it won't last. I wait for motivation to come & eventually it does- then I take care of my to-do list.

Living with depression, which causes much of these types of feelings, I've learned not to force anything- as it usually doesn't work. So I just wait for the cycle to move on & am grateful to have energy when I do.

Bostonian
Can you do necessary things that don't need inspiration, such as respond to email, pay bills, or clean your office?
hockeybias
I do some exercise or something that makes me feel productive:

   - Clean the house a bit
   - Do some yard work
   - Get some exercise (bike ride or stretching & 7-minute workout)
I find that if I do any of the above - especially if I am NOT in the mood to! - makes me feel a lot better!
stephengillie
Just do the first step. Just one step at a time. Get the notebook open. Open the program. Stare at it for a while. Think and meditate. Remember why you like to do this. Get yourself caught up into it.
contingencies
Sometimes it's natural to take a break, don't beat yourself up about it! Try to stay positive instead of stressing yourself about output. If you can't manage your psychology around it, try searching for 'psychology of rest' or 'creativity and rest' or something else likely to turn up positive results about random breaks, then convince yourself you're taking the most pragmatic approach!
fit2rule
I put some music on. This always snaps me out of it. Of course, it depends what sort of music. Loud, obnoxious, and appealing. Something I haven't heard in a while.
asantash
often, it's discipline over motivation. having a routine helps to actually get you up and doing activities during the day. then the small accomplishments accumulate to motivation returning. break things into small tasks, and socialize.
scrollaway
It's ok to be lethargic sometimes. If it's very regular it could be a symptom of something else (maybe psychological; depression, general lack of motivation), so maybe you can talk to a therapist about it.

Go for a run? If you don't have the energy to run, go for a walk. If you're not going to do anything during the day, might as well enjoy the sun and visit new places.

neltnerb
I wholeheartedly agree with this. Sometimes you feel lethargic, sometimes you feel inspired. The best thing to do is enjoy the heck out of the lethargic times and avoid judging yourself too harshly -- you're only human.

Over time you can try to identify things that lengthen lethargic periods, and things that inspire you, and try to build those. However, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being demotivated from time to time. I just see it as a natural recharge time between inspired times.

Some things that I find bring on inspired times:

- Sit around and disconnect from the internet. Boredom is fantastic as a motivational tool.

- Exercise.

- Do nice things for your friends and family. Invite people over for dinner, play board games, mow your grandmothers' lawn. Or just write them a letter.

aesthetics1
I find walks to be instrumental in keeping my mood up. I take a 15-20 minute walk in the mornings and in the afternoons -- I time it around those "will this day ever end" moments that come around 10:30 and 3:00. Getting some sunshine, focusing on other things, and getting out of the cube for a bit can do wonders.

I work for a government outfit as a programmer and I don't have the cool frameworks to play with, the pool table in the break room, etc. Sometimes you just have to get out of the space for a bit and let your mind wander.

zamalek
Another option is to sit down and have a think. If your subconscious is trying to deprive you of all activities, other than thinking, there might be a reason for it.
halotrope
I have similar dynamics where phases total lethargy are often followed by episodes of surprising energy. I can second that exercise and the lack thereof can seriously affect your mental wellbeing. Watching sleep hygiene, excise and diet are important. Also check if you might be suffering from depression. Apart from that I have to say that I personally like this alternation and resting. If it does not feel awful for you maybe just accept this as your nature :)
super_mario
Vigorous aerobic exercise does wonders for your mood and it doesn't have to be that long. Half an hour will do the trick. Make sure you raise your HR to above 80% of your HRmax. This does wonders for your brain, it makes it produce BDNF, which helps you learn and retain memories better too, and improves your mood.

I know it can be really hard to make yourself do it, esp. when you feel down, but after you are done, you will be asking yourself what were you objecting to in the first place.

If you want to learn more about the link between exercise and brain health read "Brain Rules" by Dr. John Medina or watch his Google talk by the same name:

https://youtu.be/IK1nMQq67VI

He also has "Baby Brain Rules" on parenting techniques to help your new baby get a good start (some of the stuff you need to do way before you even get pregnant/decide to have a child).

revx
So, a few things here that I've discovered in my own fight against this kind of lethargy & depression.

1. Eat food. Eat good, healthy food on a regular schedule. The willpower center of your brain takes a LOT of calories to run, and if you don't fuel it, you'll find yourself paralyzed by laziness. Make sure the calories you ingest are solid ones - protien, fat, sugar. Not HFCS or other forms of fructose, since it messes with your insulin and makes you feel full even when you aren't.

2) If you are male, check your orgasm and pron consumption. For myself, if I've orgasmed in the last three days, I get a kind of empty, grey fuzz feeling that feels a lot like depression. As someone who's fought mild depression, one of the best ways for me has been to regulate my sexuality and orgasm only when I know I don't need to do anything the next day. Track your energy and your sex drive, and see if there's a correlation - I bet the results will speak for themselves.

3) Sleep on a schedule. Caffeine doesn't count. It's painful and it takes willpower and it sucks but that's life. I solved this one by getting married to a woman who keeps a very strict sleep schedule (ymmv :P )

4) Organize your time. Follow pomodoro or a one hour on-one hour off time. If you find yourself "half-working" (sitting at your computer pretending to work but really browsing HN and Reddit). Get up. Go outside. Walking and standing are good for your health and your creativity.

5) Find a friend or partner who energizes you. Someone who you can hang out with and have crazy ideas and good conversation. If you don't have someone like this, start by making acquaintances at a local club or meetup.

6) Rest. Understand that recuperating your strength for a day isn't going to wreck your chances at becoming the next great startup CEO. It's okay to give yourself a break, before you break.

Hope this helps :)

ipetepete
To piggy-back on revx....

Consider getting some blood work done. I found out I have a high incidence of Epstein Bar (related to Mononucleosis) and if I don't regulate my diet, I get completely drained of energy and will for anything. This also affects my sex drive and as revx mentioned, my physiology after orgasm. I call it the sex hangover.

I found that yoga and walking also helps a lot, I look for yoga videos on Youtube, the prettier the instructor the better ;)

porker
And I thought I was the only one who had post-orgasm depressive/flat feelings!
revx
I don't have a source right now but I think people have written about it since the ancient Romans!

I think it happens to pretty much everyone, we as society just don't talk about sexuality or depression enough to put the two together.

louithethrid
Go for a walk. When not enough energy for that, draw something, create something, that takes no huge mental effort, just a wandering mind.

Usually when i get lethargic it means something is wrong with my enviroment, nothing new, everything run of the mill and other people have allready down it. In that case- try to automatize it or find out how one could do that .

Thriptic
Are these feelings correlated with anything? Do you feel this way after a particularly tough time at work? Do you feel underlying anxiety about your startup?

I generally ascribe to the "show up and do something" philosophy on days like the one you're describing. I tell myself that I can have the rest of the day off guilt free if I just do one task that I've been meaning to get done. For me the biggest challenge to working is starting, so generally once I start working on that one task, I find new energy and will continue working once I finish it.

rrss1122
Have a little coffee for a quick pick-me-up. I just drink little by little till I don't need to any more. I try to keep the coffee to an absolute minimum, and save it till I'm really feeling lethargic.
josscrowcroft
I clean my living space, clear out old baggage and remnants of old identities, to make space for the new. Lethargy seems to come when I am ready to let go even more and allow life to show me my next steps, but I need to listen to the message.

In the depression/anxiety/lethargy space I find it's not time for any major life breakthroughs.

The biggest breakthrough for me is finding the initial half ounce of mojo to begin the space-clearing and space-claiming process... whether washing a single dish, throwing an old piece of clothing, deleting an email I'll never get around to replying to.

Then, doing it again, and again, one damn t-shirt at a time.

Soon the momentum picks up and the clearing happens by itself.

Also, for me generally the only way out is through - I find it starts with acceptance of this moment as it is, so I'm careful to not add my judgments ("This should not be happening", "I fucked up", etc.) to the situation, but instead hold the lethargic/anxious/depressed parts of me in kindness. Not trying to change anything about them.

From that starting place of self-kindness I can take a breath, dust myself off, and begin taking one simple, tiny action – not to make anything happen but only to make space for the new and invite it in.

I ask myself often: Which old junk am I ready to let go of to make space for the new? I don't need to know what the new is, just trust life and start throwing away the shitty t-shirts.

qzcx
+1 for cleaning. Really helps me when I get into a slump. Something mindless, but productive with clear results. Lets my mind process whatever it is that is slowing me down.
azernik
Take a break! Sleep, go out to a park and lie down in the sun, whatever makes you feel like you're not struggling to motivate yourself. Don't do leisure activities like computer games if they make you feel bored and unfulfilled - that'll just make you lethargic and depressed, in my experience.

If this is a regular problem for you, the time to address it is when you're feeling "up" - get exercise, get enough sleep (even if that involves midday naps, and I'm sure many other things that people can suggest).

wozmirek
Put on your fav music and dance when nobody sees you. I do it really often. I hate running, though I really enjoy cycling and dancing - managed to dance for like 6 hours to happy hardcore at a rave once, while I detest the 10-min running warmup before a lifting session (love lifting!). And yeah, go outside every single day if you're WFH.
shreyas056
I suggest you get tested for psychiatric diseases like Bipolar or depression. I used to have similar mood swings and a year ago I went into major depression. I consulted a psychiatrist and got diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and depression. The mood swings were due to Bipolar. Now after one year of treatment and still going, I am having less mood swings. Depression has pretty much gone away too. But general lack of motivation still persists.